Since 1985, the lawyers at Shapiro & Appleton have dedicated their practice to helping people when they need it most. Our clients are usually down and out after a serious accident, struggling financially, physically, and emotionally. We take pride in advocating for the downtrodden and injured and getting the financial restitution they are owed.

One of the most effective ways to choose a top-notch attorney is by reviewing their professional accolades and awards. Independent, third-party organizations bestow these recognitions and distinctions and symbolize a level of excellence in the profession.

We are very proud of the success we have had in obtaining large settlements, arbitration awards, judgments, and jury verdicts. Our success is based mainly on our experience in courtrooms across Virginia.

Featuring breaking news stories in Virginia, North Caroling and nationwide. Our news stories about accidents, events, injuries, and lawsuits are researched and published by our team of experienced personal injury attorneys and could help you learn more about your personal injury case.

One of the best ways to gauge the quality of a personal injury law firm is the feedback from prior clients. The reviews and testimonials on this page are authentic and unfiltered. We are proud to have served so many people who needed help during a difficult time.

By adapting and being familiar with not only Virginia and North Carolina Courts, but also Courts throughout the Eastern United States, our attorneys have developed a set of skills that can be incredibly useful in every sort of significant personal injury case.

The attorneys with our firm actively engage in continuing legal education seminars in the field of injury law. Our lawyers have also regularly delivered lectures to personal injury lawyers not only in Virginia but at national trial organizations.

To stay on the leading edge of personal injury law, all of the firm's attorneys are active in local, state, and national personal injury trial law organizations. We also retain the services of forensic animators, videographers, and computer specialists to produce compelling evidence that will persuade a jury to award maximum damages.

NSC Grade for Virginia Road Safety: D

The report is published each year and examines how effectively each state is addressing road safety, home and community safety, and workplace safety and if enough measures are being taken to help eliminate preventable deaths from factors such as falls, distracted driving, or prescription painkillers. According to the NSC, there are more than 140,000 people killed each year in preventable accidents, and another 40 million injured.

Virginia’s Score

In addition to receiving a D in its overall score, the state also received a D in how its effectiveness for addressing road safety, coming in at number 38 out of all 50 states. In several different categories, the state was addressing some serious issues, but failing to address others:

Drunk Driving: Virginia does have sobriety checkpoints requires the use of ignition interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers. But the state fails to implement a policy that suspends the license of any driver who refuses to take a breathalyzer. The state also does not have an open container ban for both drivers and passengers.

Distracted Driving: Although the state does have texting bans for all drivers, it fails when it comes to enacting laws which would ban all handheld devices for teen drivers.

Speeding: The state scored points for red light traffic use and also for lowered speed limits in school zones, however it loses points for failing to implement a 55-m.p.h. speed limit on urban highways.

Seat Belts: Virginia is completely off-track when it comes to seat belt requirements. There is not a law that requires that all occupants must be belted at all times and what laws Virginia does have in place are secondary ones. The state also does not require seat belts in school buses.

Child Passengers: Virginia fails completely in its child passenger requirements. The state does not require rear-seat facing seats until the child is 2-years-old, does not require booster seats or child restraints for children up to 8-years-old, does not have a child left in a hot vehicle law, and does not have a Good Samaritan protecting young children law in place.

Teen Drivers: Although the state does have some policies partially in place, the report concludes Virginia can do more when it comes to teen driver safety and addressing setting limits on night driving for teens. The state does fail at addressing young passenger restrictions for teen drivers.

Vulnerable Drivers: The state scores high marks for requiring helmets for motorcycle riders, but falls short in the other two categories: No helmet requirements for bicycle riders and Virginia does not have a law that requires vehicles to stop for pedestrians in an uncontrolled roadway.

Have You Been Injured in a Crash?

If you have sustained injuries in a traffic accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, contact a skilled Virginia car accident attorney to discuss what legal options you may have against that driver for collecting financial compensation for those injuries.